The raised bedon the balcony – feature, features and benefits

Originally the raised bed was a sensible extension in gardening. The advantages are the easy and back-friendly handling, the plants get more light and are largely protected against pests. These advantages can also be used on the balcony. So that the raised bed is suitable for the balcony, you should note some points. The raised bed is the earthin a solid construction. It is therefore a higher level planter, which still offers plenty of depth for the plants.

The requirements for a balcony raised bed

Safety has priority in any case. For the raised bed on the balcony, this means that you have to adjust the weight of the bed with the soil to the load capacity of the balcony. In general, you may also create the bed on the balcony of a rented apartment. Whether owner or tenant, inquire about the load capacity of the balcony. With a lightweight construction, you can reduce weight.

The location and orientation of the balcony also play a role. Cheap is a sunny and sheltered location. On the north balcony or in a very draughty place, the raised bed only makes sense if you use suitable plants.

Homebuilding or ready-made purchase: Various raised bed variants

You can lay your raised bed near the ground or put it on a post construction. The raised bed on legs has the advantage that you have storage space underneath. For both versions there is the possibility of self-construction or finished purchase. If you want to build the bed on your own, it depends on your crafting skills. If you are not talented, you will find garden kits that allow easy installation. Tinkerer first design a plan and get all the materials. You want to save the work? Then buy a finished raised bed that you only need to fill with soil.

The construction can be made of plastic, metal or wood. Combinations of two or three different materials are also possible. Decisive here is again the weight. Raised beds made of plastic or aluminum are relatively light, while wood brings a higher weight. For the garden there are also variants of concrete or stones, but for the balcony are clearly too heavy.

Whether you plan the bed rectangular, square or round depends on your taste and the size of the balcony. Always make sure that you can reach the middle of the bed comfortably. One calculates with a distance of about 60 centimeters from the edge to the middle. This greatly facilitates the care of the plants.

This is how you fill the raised bed properly

The inside of the box is laid out with a fleece. This makes it much easier for you to exchange used earth. There should be a drain at the bottom. Directly on the ground is a filter fleece, so that when it rains and when pouring no earth is washed out. To prevent waterlogging, you also create a drainage layer. Suitable drainage are large shingle, Potsherds, expanded clayor small shredded pruning. Cover the drainage layer again with a water-permeable fleece. Now the earth comes into the bed. Use a substrate that fits the planned planting. If you want to plant mixed flowers and vegetables, take a mixture of humus rich soil, peat and compost, The uppermost layer should only consist of sieved earth. Otherwise, there are special soil mixtures for each planting project. If you want to pay more attention to the weight, use a particularly light substrate.

Now only plant or sow seeds – then the raised bed will soon be an asset to your balcony. Summer flowers, vegetables, salads and herbs usually thrive well. If you have a trellisintegrate, you can also use creeping plants and so a natural privacycreate.